LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 99, 27 March 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A meeting of the Stratford Domain Board will bo held this i verting at 7.30 to meet representatives of the tennis club.

Friday next. March 31, being the Anniversary of the Taranaki Province, .will he observed as a Bank Holiday by the Banks having branches in this district.

Tlie report that Sir Joseph Ward has purchased a house iu Auckland, and intends residing there ha s been denied by him. nisi The sum of £IOO has been forwarded anonymously to the Land and Income Tax Department as conscience monev.

Forms providing for the taking ot the oat’n of allegiance by teachers rre being sent out to teachers by the Canterbury Education Board.

Owing to the threatening weather yesterday Moosman’s orchestra, of Hawera. did not give its programme at. Ngaere Cardens as advertised. Tbo orchestra', however, is hilled to appear next Sunday.

Keducriioufl in OirLstchuuch tramway service, chiefly represented by cutting out early morning trams, are to take effect after April J, and are estimated by the tramway authorities to result iu -a .saving of £I2OO per annum.

One of thy most remarkable relics in Katana’s unique collection of discarded crutches, invalid chairs, etc-, is a steel frame which once supported the frail body of an invalid of twenty years’ standing. The lady is now in Wellington and was to relate some part of her miracle at the service of St. Andrew’s Church, held in the Artcraft Theatre, on Sundaynight. Through Katana’g agency the girl is now in normal health, and attributes her life and restored condition to Divine healing.

In a letter to the Dunedin ‘Times’, in which they credit the City Fire Brigade with having effected, “a very finy save’’ in the lire at their premises in Maclaggan street last week in confining the damage to one department, Messrs William Stewart and Co. mention that two mAi from H.M.S. Chatham rendered yeoman service. “We were not aware,” they write, “that when on shore these men are expected to assist in such emergencies, and considering they are not specially equipped for this work at the time, their conduct gives further proof that the British Navy, to the last man, is always ready to protect the lives and property of British subjects, when in danger, at any time and in any place.” A special meeting of the Oddfellows’ Lodge is being held this evening. Sanderson and Judd for plumbing, drain-laying, etc. Good work and prompt attention. Telephone 829. For Electric Wiring, ftcpalrs, etc. ring up Smart Bros., No. 80, ami at night No, 15d.

Summer time began in Britain, France, an<i Belgium to-day, slates a London cablegram of the 25th inst. Mr A. A. Lucas, one of the proprietors of the Nelson “Mail,” is in Wellington, after a holiday trip which took him to the far north of the Auckland district. He never saw the sun from the time he went north till ho returned to Wellington. It was 74 yeats last Thursday (the “Otago Daily Times” reminds the public) since the first pioneers landed in Otago, and the day was celebrated as practically ’ a general holiday. All Government offices were closed for the anniversary. In the last Matriculation examination K. Blakeney, a pupil of Wellesley College, headed the list for INew Zealand in Latin and history' with 8S per cent., and 85 per cent, respectively. He also gained third place in mathematics with 83 per cent. Considering that he was 14 years of age at the time of the examination, hi-j performance is a meritorious one. A well-attended meeting of railway men on Friday night decided tc| hold the annual railway ball on May 4 in the Stratford Town Hall. The date is somewhat earlier than last year’s function, which, though very successful, was considered to be rather late in the season. Mr H. 5 Martin is chairman and Mr A, R. Hutchins secretary of the committee in control of the arrangements.

Captain Frank Wild is the new leader of the Quest expedition. Now that Scott and Shackleton are dead, Captain Wild is perhaps the greatest British explorer alive. He wa s born in Skelton. Yorks, in 1874. Captain Wild went to Australia in the Sobraon iu 1889. Ho went with Scott in the Discovery, 1901-4, with Shackleton 1907-9, with Hr Maw«on 1911-13. and with the Imperial Trans-Atlantic expedition in 1914.

A plan whereby the Social Hygiene Society proposes to give addresses to parents in the schools on matters pertaining to the instruction of their children in sex matters, was outlined b v a deputation from the Society that waited on tfie School Committees,’ Association in Christchurch last week. The Association cordially approved of the deputation’s proposals, and recommended school committees to grant tlio Society the free use of school buildings in order that addresses might be delivered to the parents.

At the meeting of the TTawera Chamber of Commerce on Friday pight, it was stated that there were c, large number of unemployed in the town, and numv did not have sufficient money to take a job on the Public Works not being able to provide tents or pay for food. The President (Mr J. B. Murdoch) suggested that the 'Public Works Department be requested to provide .tents and galley arrangements. This was agreed to, and a committee was set up with a view to the establishment of a central bureau, whore unemployed could register.

Extraordinarily heavy rain fell at intervals from Saturday, night until early this morning, accompanied by thunder and lightning, Mr T. H. Penn recorded that no less than inches fell of rain fell during that time. To-day’s weather forecast by the Government Meterologist is as follows:—The indications are for variable and strong breezes but westerly moderate to strong prevailing and backing by west to south. Tlie weather appears likely to be cloudy and unsettled. Kain probable. Barometer unsteady but rising soon. Tbo Bulgarian bug sour milk habit, which started iu Auckland, seems now to have got a firm hold in Wanganui (says the ‘‘‘Herald”). A Wanganui resident states that while his wife was away on a holiday she committed to his care the “bug” with instructions that ho was to dose it with fresh milk daily. All wont w-ell for a few days until the novelty of housekeeping on bis own account wore off, and he forgot all about the “bug,” At the time he had no milk in the house, but having a) square “rigger” of beer handy, he poured some of it over the “bug” to see how it would act. Greatly to his surprise the “bug” continued to thrive, and what was better still from the resident’s point of view it materially improved the taste of fiat beer.

In the Whangarei Court Mr F. H. Levien, g.M., reserved his decision in a curious case in which a local jeweller, E. A. Simmins, claimed £56 10s from W. A. Cole, the value of rings supplied. The defendant pleaded no responsibility. The rings were ordered by his wife on approval for her mother-in-law. Miss Colo called and got them. After examination at home they were returned to their paper ■ wrapping. When Miss Cole cleared the table she threw them in the fire. When the error was discovered the fire was raked over and the rings were recovered in a partly melted oonditidn. The diamond stones also suffered injury. Chatlef* Henry Cole, who had wanted the rings, produced them in court and said ho was willing to have an order made on his wages to pay for them. Plaintiff said ho held Mrs Ole responsible as the person who ordered the rings.

The Defence Department notifies that a muster parade of ail members on the Non-Effective List wdl be held on April 10th,

It is understood that the specifications for the new Victoria Bridge over the Patea in Stratford have been signed by the successful tenderer, and that the work will be proceeded with almost immediately. Level crossing j a droter and his dog with three sheep, and a train shunting. This was a scene at Fenton Street crossing this morning. The drover least among the spectators, never thought of trouble, and openly expressed his pride in the dog “Rover,” who was keeping his charges in hand - with an amount of sagacity that was wonderful. But he failed at. the psychological moment’ when the engine and trucks were being shunted on t|o the main line, and the three sheep were literally pushed in front y of the wheels of the foremost waggon, but got across safely, leaving the dVover pn on© side and the sheep and dbg on''the other. Then on e sheep, on kk being chased by th© dog, ran under the moving wheels and was cut to W pieces. The drover -was most surprisp ed, and it was apparent from his remarks as lie fruitlessly endeavored to prevent the remaining two from running under the train that his faith in the dog had vanished.' However, they were safely shepWnJed. * Rut his troubles were not over. He drove a horse and trap to the scene to remove th© d£ad sheep, but the hors© played up and broke one of the shafts, and as he hunted about the railway yard for w'ilre with which to bind the broken ends together the horse wandered off up town! But it did not get far. The drover was growling about the inconvenience of the crossing before the accident, but what h© thinkg of it now deponent knoweth not. Sanderson and Judd do all bindc of electrical work, and stock all kindnf electrical fittings. ,